(Photo via Xavier Litman/WCSN)
Arizona State women’s tennis had four players competing on day two of the Sun Devils’ annual Thunderbird Invitational at Whiteman Tennis Center Saturday morning. In the final tournament of the fall season, ASU is looking to wrap it up on a high note.
The day began with doubles play, as junior Giulia Morlet and graduate student Sedona Gallagher won their single-set match 7-5 over USC’s top-ranked doubles pair.
Sedona Gallagher’s witty play style proved complementary to Morlet’s power and finishing capabilities, as the Sun Devil duo finished rallies and stayed patient on defense while not allowing the opponent to gain an offensive position at the net.
Juniors Rachel Hanford and Marianna Argyrokastriti suffered a close loss to the Trojans’ second-ranked doubles team 5-7. The pair started the set off strong by winning three of the first four games. Argyrokastriti served as a vocal leader and sparkplug while showing aggression and getting into offensive net positions early on in the match. However, the duo’s inability to finish rallies and costly mistakes in late games led to its downfall, as Hanford and Argyrokastriti lost the next 6 of 8 games.
The Sun Devils then won two out of their four singles matches, led by the No. 46 ranked Morlet’s 7-5, 6-1 victory and Argyrokastriti’s 6-3, 6-1 victory. Morlet faced Michigan senior Andrea Cerdan and played her strongest in the second set, capitalizing on break points with big backhand shots down the line and limiting the volley mistakes she suffered in the first set. Argyrokastriti’s victory over Wolverine senior Nicole Hammond followed suit in similar fashion, as the Greece native was able to limit mistakes and win points at the net with her aggressive playstyle.
Gallagher suffered a hard-fought three-set loss to Michigan junior Gala Mesochoritou. Gallagher was able to narrowly win the first set 7-5. She hit a difficult backspin drop shot early in the set to capitalize on a crucial breakpoint, and then delivered in clutch moments in the last two games. But the senior struggled with accuracy in the subsequent sets, falling 6-1 and 6-3.
Hanford also lost in three sets to Ohio State graduate student Danielle Willson. After dropping her first set 6-2, Hanford bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second after winning crucial points with her speed and agility. Yet the Minnesota transfer appeared to be drained by the third set, and Willson was able to walk away with a 6-3 set win and match victory.
On Sunday, the four Sun devils will look to finish strong in the tournament and capitalize on their successes from day two.
